Vic Cepeda
One of Marianas High School’s pioneer educators, Victorino “Vic” Sablan Cepeda, remembers how he started with the school when it opened in 1969. It was the year when MHS became the first full-fledged public high school to serve the island community during the Trust Territory government.
Marianas High School offered 10th, 11th and 12th grades when it opened 55 years ago, Cepeda remembers. Prior to MHS, Hopwood Intermediate School (Junior-Senior High School) was the only secondary school on Saipan.
Cepeda, now 83, was only in his 20s when he joined MHS as its mathematics teacher.
“From the beginning, I was there. From the very first day it opened, I was one of the teachers hired,” said Cepeda of his first foray in high school teaching.
He was one of the pioneer local residents who served the community during the post-war education department in Saipan, a pivotal moment in the islands’ history.
Upon graduating in Guam, Cepeda returned to Saipan to serve his community. This was in 1961.
Prior to MHS, he taught at the then-Hopwood Intermediate School/Junior-Senior High School.
Good memories came rushing back when Cepeda sat for the first time in a while to talk about his experiences as a public school educator.
“After the war, who were the teachers for our people? We – us locals,” said a humbly proud Cepeda.
He started as a 4th grade classroom teacher at the Chalan Kanoa William S. Reyes Elementary School. Then, he transferred to Oleai Elementary School and taught for three years.
He was sent by the then-Department of Education of the Trust Territory government to teach on Pagan island for one year.
Following his return to Saipan one year later, he was sent to the Pohnpei Micronesia Teacher Education Center by the territory government’s education department.
He taught at Hopwood Intermediate School after his teacer training in Pohnpei. Not long enough, he moved to become one of the pioneer local teachers at MHS when it opened as a brand new high school built by the Trust Territory government.
Barely a year later, as a mathematics teacher at MHS, the department of education director at that time, John Feazell, asked him to serve as vice principal for Luis Benavente.
Benavente replaced David Miller, who was the first principal of MHS.
Feazell ended his tenure and went back home to the mainland. Jesus Concepcion succeeded him as education director. Concepcion was the former Chalan Kanoa WSR Elementary School administrator.
Upon Concepcion’s appointment, one of his first order of business was to send then-MHS Principal Luis Benavente to Oregon to pursue college education.
Vic Cepeda
Cepeda was named acting principal from 1973 to 1979.
“I was working with teachers and staff of MHS to help me run the school. I also got help from the school counselor, Don Giddings,” shares Cepeda.
Cepeda was then sent to Oregon to pursue further studies. He was succeeded by Antonio Quitugua as principal of MHS from 1980 to 1981.
Cepeda remembers during the Trust Territory period, there was no college or higher institution on Saipan. Most classes were taught by high school graduates.
When he came back from Oregon, Cepeda returned to MHS. He became principal again in 1983 and served the MHS community until his retirement in 1988.
Cepeda would become the longest serving school administrator in Marianas High School’s 55-year history.
“One reason why I stayed long is my relationship with parents and students, who are members of our community. I take pride in how we all worked together for our students,” Cepeda said.
One particular chapter in his role was that he made sure that failing students were able to make up for their learning loss, by taking the make-up examination with their parents next to them.
“I remember we have remedial tests for students held at school after dinner. This was around 7 pm and students were with their parents next to them when they took the examination. I grade the students’ test results, and with parents next to them, they know right there how their children perform,” Cepeda shares.
Cepeda is proud of the “buddy system” he instituted at MHS. “When I see a student being alone for some reason, I approach the student and ask how we can assist them. This happened back in the 1970s, especially when you were new to the island.”
He added, “What I did was to ask the student body (STUCO) and encourage the buddy system—to partner each student leader with a student who needs assistance or simply needs a friend.”
Cepeda remembered he made it compulsory for students and parents to attend parent orientation before the school year opening.
“This was held for both parents and students to primarily learn about school expectations,” Cepeda notes.
There was no single formula for student success. It was all about partnership between the schools and the home.
As a result, MHS became a poster school for a strong PTSA organization. “We became a united campus that other schools learned from us.”
Looking back 55 years ago, Cepeda saw how MHS has grown as a strong community of learners.
“I wish I could still go back and take care of whatever is needed…. Because I always believe we, as educators, can continue to make a difference in the lives of others,” a humbly proud Cepeda said.
